HAIR CLIPPING DEVICE
The present invention is concerned with a hair clipping device. The device has a first member in the form of an arm, and defines an inwardly facing surface. The device has a second member also in the form of an arm, movably connected to the first member and defines an inwardly facing surface. The device further has a bridge, the bridge has a frame portion made of a first material and an interior portion made of a second material. The interior portion is softer than the frame portion and provided with an increased frictional surface when compared to said frame portion.
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The present invention is concerned with a hair clipping device, including but not limited to a hair barrette and hair clipping claws.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is a variety of hair clipping devices in the market. While they are effective in managing hair to some extent, they are often unable to hold hair in shape for a long period of time. In another extreme, some of the hair clips tend to tangle with the hair such that removal of the clips becomes difficult, often resulting damage to the hair.
The present invention seeks to address these issues, or at least to provide an alternative to the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hair clipping device comprising a first member defining an inwardly facing surface, a second member movably connected to the first member and defining an inwardly facing surface, and a bridge, wherein the bridge includes a frame portion made of a first material and an interior portion made of a second material, and wherein the interior portion is softer than the frame portion and provided with an increased frictional surface when compared to the frame portion.
Preferably, the bridge may be arranged on but raised from the inner facing surface of the first member, and wherein the interior portion is provided with, an enhanced profile for increasing friction for hair gripping in use. The bridge may be elongate in shape and may run along a longitudinal axis of the hair clipping device. The bridge may be attached to the first member at opposite ends of the bridge. The device may comprise a pair of connectors acting a pair of feet for attachment of the bridge to the first member.
In an embodiment, the device may be configured such that a clearance is defined between the bridge and the first member. in a specific embodiment, the bridge may be slightly flexible towards the inwardly facing surface of the first member when under pressure from hair during hair clipping, and wherein the bridge may be mechanically biased towards hair being held and/or the second member. In this respect, the bridge may be mechanically springy.
In one embodiment, the first material may be a plastic material selected from a group including ABS, PP, HIPS, GPPS, PE, Nylon, polycarbonate, K-resin, acetal, cellulose acetate, PVC, PET and PLA, or a metallic material selected from a group of steel, brass and aluminium or a combination; and wherein said second material is selected from a group of TPE, TPR, silicone, rubber, PVC and EVA.
In another embodiment, the bridge may be formed by double injection in which the interior portion may be molded to the frame portion previously molded. Alternatively, the frame portion and the interior portion may be connected together by snap-fitting and/or gluing.
In a specific embodiment, the bridge may be provided with a number of spikes pointing away from the inwardly facing surface of the first member and/or towards the second member for increased grip of hair by the spikes and/or between the bridge and the second member. Additionally or alternatively, the bridge may be provided with a number of apertures thereon.
Advantageously, the bridge member may be connected to the first member by a methodology selected from a group including sonic welding, laser welding, screw fastening, heat pressing, cold pressing, heat pivoting and gluing.
In a specific embodiment, the elongate bridge may have a length ranging from substantially 18 mm to 40 mm.
Suitably, the device may comprise a hinge at one end thereof for connecting the first member and the second member together allowing the device to swing open from one end for receiving a lock of hair in use. The device may comprise a locking means at the opposite end for locking the first member and the second member together, thus allowing the log of hair be secured therebetween.
In one embodiment, the device may generally be in the form of a barrette.
In another embodiment, the first member and the second member generally resemble a pair of claws for holding a lock of hair together. In a specific embodiment, the device may comprise two bridges arranged on the first member and the second member, respectively, wherein the position of the bridges is such that on assembly of the first and second members, the bridges cooperatively secure a lock of hair therebetween.
Some embodiments of the present invention will now be explained, with reference to the accompanied drawings, in which:
The present invention is concerned with hair clipping device, and is illustrated and explained by way of examples below.
A first embodiment of a hair clipping device, or a hair clip, is shown in
In this embodiment, the bridge member 22 is made by double injection in which the frictional portion 34 is molded to the frame portion 32 previously molded. It is however to be noted that other suitable mode of assembly may be used. Once the bridge member 22 has been formed, it can be secured to the corresponding recesses 30, 32. In this embodiment, it is secured by sonic welding, although in other embodiment, laser welding, screw fastening, heat pressing, cold pressing, heat pivoting or gluing may be used.
Referring to
The configuration of the clip 2 is advantageous in multi-fold. First, the provision of the frictional portion 34 made of a softer material increases the frictional engagement between the lock of hair being secured and the clip 2. Second, the three-dimensional profile of the bridge member 22 in the form of spikes in this embodiment allows penetration into the lock of hair which further increases gripping of the hair. Third, the bridge member is springy which allows it to spring towards or press against the hair due to the inherent material and structural property, thus further minimize loosening of the hair from the clip 2. The dual material structure of the bridge member 22 provides on one hand the necessary stiffness and springiness of the overall structure and on the other hand the increased frictional grip of the frictional portion or the second material. Overall, the bridge member 22 is relatively firm, and yet, sufficiently flexible so as to provide a flexibility or flexural springy effect. This increases the tolerance of the clipping device such that it can not only secure a lock of hair more reliably but also can accommodate different volume of hair.
It should be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the content of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the content of a single embodiment, may be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations. It is to be noted that certain features of the embodiments are illustrated by way of non-limiting examples. For example, while the bridge member as illustrated in the aforementioned embodiments are elongate, other suitable profiles or length of the bridge member may also be used. Also, a skilled person in the art will be aware of the prior art which is not explained in the above for brevity purpose.
Claims
1. A hair clipping device comprising a first member defining an inwardly facing surface, a second member movably connected to said first member and defining an inwardly facing surface, and a bridge made of plastic, with opposite ends attached to and raised from the inner surface of said first member via a pair of feet as connectors at said opposite ends, wherein said bridge includes a frame portion made of a first plastic material and an interior portion made of a second plastic material, wherein said interior portion is softer than said frame portion and provided with an increased frictional surface when compared to said frame portion, and wherein said bridge comprises a plurality of spikes for increased gripping of hair in use.
2. (canceled)
3. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridge is elongate in shape and runs along a longitudinal axis of said hair clipping device.
4. (canceled)
5. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connectors are configured for attachment of the bridge to said first member.
6. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a clearance is defined between said bridge and said first member.
7. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bridge is flexible towards the inwardly facing surface of said first member when under pressure from hair during hair clipping, and wherein in use said bridge is mechanically biased towards hair being held between said first member and said second member.
8. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridge is mechanically springy.
9. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first material is a plastic material selected from a group including ABS, PP, HIPS, GPPS, PE, Nylon, polycarbonate, K-resin, acetal, cellulose acetate, PVC, PET and PLA, or a metallic material selected from a group of steel, brass and aluminium or a combination; and wherein said second material is selected from a group of TPE, TPR, silicone, rubber, PVC and EVA.
10. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame portion of said bridge is made of molded plastic and said interior portion of said bridge is made of plastic molded on said frame portion.
11. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame portion and said interior portion are connected together by snap-fitting or gluing.
12. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spikes points away from the inwardly facing surface of said first member and/or towards said second member for increased grip of hair by said spikes and/or between said bridge and said second member.
13. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridge is provided with a number of apertures thereon.
14. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridge member is connected to said first member by a methodology selected from a group including sonic welding, laser welding, screw fastening, heat pressing, cold pressing, heat pivoting and gluing.
15. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate bridge has a length ranging from substantially 18 mm to 40 mm.
16. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a hinge at one end thereof for connecting said first member and said second member together allowing said device to swing open for receiving a lock of hair in use.
17. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 16, comprising a locking means at an end opposite said hinge end for locking said first member and said second member together, thus allowing the lock of hair to be secured therebetween.
18. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is generally in the form of a barrette.
19. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member and said second member resemble a pair of claws for holding a lock of hair together.
20. A hair clipping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridge comprises a first bridge and further comprising a second bridge, said first bridge arranged on said first member and said second bridge arranged on said second member, wherein the position of said bridges is such that on assembly of said first and second members, said bridges cooperatively secure a lock of hair therebetween.
21. A hair clipping device comprising a first member defining an inwardly facing surface, a second member movably connected to said first member and defining an inwardly facing surface, and a bridge made, with opposite ends attached to and raised from the inner surface of said first member via a pair of connectors at said opposite ends, wherein said bridge includes a frame portion made of a first plastic material and an interior portion made of a second plastic material, wherein said interior portion is softer than said frame portion and provided with an increased frictional surface when compared to said frame portion, and wherein said bridge is provided with a number of spikes for increased gripping of hair in use.
22. A hair clipping device comprising a first member defining an inwardly facing surface, a second member movably connected to said first member and defining an inwardly facing surface, and a bridge made of plastic, with opposite ends attached to and raised from the inner surface of said first member via a pair of connectors at said opposite ends, wherein said bridge includes a frame portion made of a first plastic material and an interior portion made of a second plastic material, and wherein said interior portion is softer than said frame portion and provided with an increased frictional surface when compared to said frame portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 18, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2014
Patent Grant number: 9049914
Applicant: TUNG HING PLASTIC MANUFACTORY LTD. (Kowloon)
Inventor: Ka Chuen SZE (Hong Kong)
Application Number: 13/717,858
International Classification: A45D 8/20 (20060101);